HOME NETWORKING QUESTION

[brunell8]

I've got a small, two computer home network set up, with MS Office on my computer (main system). I setup a shortcut on the other computer to use Word, after setting Office as a shared folder on mine box. When trying to run Word on the other computer, I get an error message that says "The operating system is not presently configured to run this application". What the heck does that mean? I'm running XP Home on both systems.

 

[Nothinman]

It means you didn't install the app on the second system, you can't just run things via the network like that, at least a lot of things can't work like that.

 

[brunell8]

Well, that's just stupid. What's the sense of being able to share folders if you can't share applications?

 

[Nothinman]

Applications are more complicated than data, they have a lot more dependencies. And since you want to run Office on 2 machines you would need to buy 2 licenses anyway so sharing it like this buys you nothing.

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Applications are more complicated than data, they have a lot more dependencies. And since you want to run Office on 2 machines you would need to buy 2 licenses anyway so sharing it like this buys you nothing.

That's not necessarily true. Some office licenses allow you to install the software on two machines, and some versions such as the student and teacher edition allow you to install the software on up to three machines.

If you have a server, you can run office from the server:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302087&sd=tech#3

 

[Nothinman]

That's not necessarily true. Some office licenses allow you to install the software on two machines, and some versions such as the student and teacher edition allow you to install the software on up to three machines.

I believe it specifically says one desktop and one laptop and also requires that only one copy be in use at a time.

If you have a server, you can run office from the server:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302087&sd=tech#3

That also requires the installation be run and the base Office files be copied to each client.

 

[Netopia]

Why not just use Open Office ( http://www.openoffice.org ) on the other machine. It does about 99% of what an average user needs to do and the cost is zilch!

Joe

 

[nweaver]

I saw Student/Teacher 2k3 office at wallyworld last night, 3 seat license, only $130. Think I'm going to take a class at the community college for a few days

 

[filterxg]

 

[Nothinman]

I saw Student/Teacher 2k3 office at wallyworld last night, 3 seat license, only $130. Think I'm going to take a class at the community college for a few days

Might want to check the license, some of them become invalid once you stop being a student.

 

[nweaver]

good point Nothinman.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: brunell8
Well, that's just stupid. What's the sense of being able to share folders if you can't share applications?

Why share applications since your going to license them x2 anyways?

The point your missing is that in order to run the software on 2 machines at the same time you need 2 licenses. If you have 2 licenses, why run off a share?

A network share doesn't make the legal issues go away. A share is to share data, what you share is up to you. Maybe you want to share the word docs, MP3, a database, whatever you want.

Want to share an app., like that? Make sure it's licensed that way.

 

[ITJunkie]

The only way I can think of to share an application is through terminal services. But it probably makes more sense to follow others advice as it doesn't sound like you have any sort of server setup.

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

I saw Student/Teacher 2k3 office at wallyworld last night, 3 seat license, only $130. Think I'm going to take a class at the community college for a few days

Might want to check the license, some of them become invalid once you stop being a student.

From Microsoft.com:

Q. Once I'm no longer a student or teacher, can I continue to use Office Student and Teacher Edition 2003?
A. Yes.

Q. How many activations/installations will be allowed for each license of the Office Student and Teacher Edition 2003?
A. You can install Office Student and Teacher Edition 2003 on up to three computers in your home without having to buy extra licenses. Get software for the entire family and save money.

I'm glad that MS does this. Hopefully, they will provide something similar a Longhorn Family Pack (like Apple did for Tiger) when Longhorn is finally released.

 

[Jeff7]

Registry entries. Lots of them. And some configuration files.
Those are all on the PC that the application is installed on. Since the other PC doesn't have these entries, the program is essentially missing critical components, and it won't run. Tracking down and duplicating all the registry entries (probably thousands of them) would be next to impossible, plus you would have to edit some path names to reflect the network folder path, instead of C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office, or whatever the case may be.

This is the same reason that for a lot of programs now, you can't just copy and paste the Program Files\Whatever-program folder into another PC and load it up. It'll look for the registry entries, be unable to find them, and freak out.

Sharing folders is mainly for the data files - documents, images, audio, video, databases, and more. Each user wanting the data files must have the appropriate viewers or editors (Office in this case) installed on their respective PC's.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

I saw Student/Teacher 2k3 office at wallyworld last night, 3 seat license, only $130. Think I'm going to take a class at the community college for a few days

Might want to check the license, some of them become invalid once you stop being a student.

office 2003 student/teach is valid as long as you have a single member of your household who qualifies, either as an instructor or student and as long as no family member uses it for commercial purposes.

 

[Granorense]

Originally posted by: Netopia
Why not just use Open Office ( http://www.openoffice.org ) on the other machine. It does about 99% of what an average user needs to do and the cost is zilch!

Joe

That's what I use, the new beta 2.0 version is very promising.

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: Nothinman

I saw Student/Teacher 2k3 office at wallyworld last night, 3 seat license, only $130. Think I'm going to take a class at the community college for a few days

Might want to check the license, some of them become invalid once you stop being a student.

office 2003 student/teach is valid as long as you have a single member of your household who qualifies, either as an instructor or student and as long as no family member uses it for commercial purposes.

Actually, it only matters at the time of purchase. These quotes are from MS's website:
From Microsoft.com:

Q. Once I'm no longer a student or teacher, can I continue to use Office Student and Teacher Edition 2003?
A. Yes.

Q. How many activations/installations will be allowed for each license of the Office Student and Teacher Edition 2003?
A. You can install Office Student and Teacher Edition 2003 on up to three computers in your home without having to buy extra licenses. Get software for the entire family and save money.

 

[nweaver]

I may have to get that for my mom. She is living with my brother, who is taking some classes...

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

OMG don't buy another license, install office on the 2nd machine and don't worry about. M$ isn't going to hunt you down and kill you.

 

[doornail]

Another vote for OpenOffice.org. The beta for 2.0 works great, costs nothing, and no one gets hunted down and killed.

 

[Nothinman]

OMG don't buy another license, install office on the 2nd machine and don't worry about. M$ isn't going to hunt you down and kill you.

Whether they will prosecute your or not is irrelevant, piracy is not advocated here.

 

[nweaver]

Yeah, just install it on both computers....then I have to pay for it by increased costs next time I buy a piece of software legaly....arghh...

Try Open Office, see if it will work, it's a decent piece of software.